Chess-game apparatus.



P G TOEPFER CHESS GAME APPARATUS.

(Application lefi May 4. 1901.)

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PETER G. TOEPFER, OF MILVAUKEE, W'ISCONSIN.

CHESSmGAll/E APPARATUS.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,900, dated December 17, 1901- Application nled May 4, 1901. Serial No. 58,683. (No model.)

To LZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER G. TOEPFER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Chess-Game Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention has for its main object to make it possible for a large number of spectators to witness plays in chess-games or the demonstration of chess problems, said invention consisting in peculiarities of the game apparatus preferably made on an extraordinary large scale to be set upon a stage or door of an auditorium and to pack in comparatively small compass for transportation or storage, said apparatus being especially designed for use by expert chess-players, who travel from place to place giving exhibitions, and for illustrating to an audience the moves in a game played elsewhere and communicated by telegraph, telephone, or otherwise.

The chess-game apparatus in accordance with my invention is hereinafter particularly set forth with reference to the accompanying drawing and subsequently claimed.

The drawing represents a partly-sectional View of a cylindrical package that embodies 4my chess-game apparatus with auxiliary devices, such as end caps and straps.

Referring by letter tothe drawing, each of 'the chessmen is of gigantic proportions and made to comprise a hollow conical body A and detachable preferably hollow head B, it being also within my invention to provide collars C for detachable fit upon the chessmenbodies below the necks of the heads, these collars being ornamental appendages of said bodies.

The field upon which to move the chessmen is a mat in sections D, the width of each section being preferably equal to that of two squares of said iield, and for transportation or storage the mat-sections are piled one upon another and rolled to form the shell of aY cylinder in which said chessmen are packed for the most part knockdown, the ends of the package being closed by caps E and the whole secured by straps F, handles G being shown connected to said caps and those of the straps that are circumferential of said package.

The detachable heads of the chessmen are made to simulate those of ordinary chessmen,

vpractice to prevent shifting or chafing of the parts in the package. The pawn-bodies being of the least dimensions, they are nested central of the package within the nested bodies of the castles, knights, and bishops, over which are nested the bodies of the queens and kings, the general disposition of the knockdownV chessmen in the cylindrical shell `formed by the piled and rolled held-mat sections being herein clearly shown.

Thegigantic chessmen herein set forth are made of light material, so as to be readily moved when set up for game on a field of corresponding dimensions, and it is to be understood 'that ordinary size or miniature chessmen similar in matters of structural detail to those aforesaid for convenience in packing are within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by 1TJuetters Patent, is-` 1. Chessmen of giganticproportions having hollow conical bodies and detachable heads, whereby Vsaid bodies may be nested and packed with the heads in comparatively small compass.

2. Chessmen of gigantic proportions having hollow conical bodies and detachable heads and collars, said bodies being nested and packed with the heads and collars for transportation or storage.

3. Chessmen ofgiganticproportionshaving hollow conical bodies and detachable heads, a field-mat in sections designed to be piled one upon another and rolled to form a cylindrical shell in which to pack nested bodies and detached heads of the chessmen, caps for the ends of the shell, and means for securing the package comprising the parts aforesaid.

4. Ghessmen having hollow conical bodies and detachable heads, whereby said bodies may be nested and packed with the heads in comparatively small compass.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, in the presence of two witnesses.

PETER G. TOEPFER. Witnesses: A

N. E. OLIPHANT, B. C. RoLoFF. 

